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Native American Legends: Hobomock (Chepi)

Name: Hobomock
Tribal affiliation: Wampanoag, Narragansett, Mohegan, Pequot
Alternate spellings: Hobbomock, Hobbamocke, Hobomok, Hobomock, Hobomak, Hobbomok, Hobbamock, Hobbomock, Hobbamocho, Abbomocho, Hobomoco, Hobbomocho
Pronunciation: Varies by dialect: usually hobe-uh-mock.
Type: Antagonist, evil spirit
Also known as: Chepi, Chipi, Cheepie, Cheepee, Cheepi, Cheepii, Chepian (pronounced chee-pee in Wampanoag.)
Related figures in other tribes: Atlantow (Mohican), Matanto (Lenape), Oke (Powhatan)

 In Wampanoag and Narragansett traditions, Hobomock was the manito (spirit) of death-- a destructive, often evil being usually in opposition to Kautantowit. Hobomock was sometimes also referred to as "Chepi," which means "ghost" in Wampanoag. Hobomock is the subject of many Wampanoag 'bogeyman' stories, warning children away from dangerous or naughty behavior. In other legends, Hobomock plays macabre tricks on adults such as stealing their eyelids so that they can never sleep again or twisting their feet to make them lame. After the introduction of Christianity, Wampanoag and Narragansett people began to identify Hobbomock with the Devil.

Hobbomock Stories

*Nikommo and Hobbamock:
    Nipmuc and Narragansett stories about Hobbomock.

Recommended Books of Related Native American Legends
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Spirit of the New England Tribes:
    Collection of Wampanoag, Narragansett, and Mohegan legends and traditional stories, including several about Cheepi (Hobomock).
Algonquian Spirit:
    Excellent anthology of stories, songs, and oral history from the Algonquian tribes.

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Additional Resources

 Mohegan Indian stories
 Pequot language
 Wampanoag words
 Wampanoag Indians
 Massachusetts language
 Northeast Woodland Indians
 Algonkian language



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